Lancashire: Simmons faces breakaway issue (17 Sep 1997)

17 September 1997

Lancashire: Simmons faces breakaway issue

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

JACK SIMMONS chairs his first committee meeting at Lancashire tonight with the issue of a breakaway cricket Super League creeping up the agenda. Lancashire and the other five counties with Test Match grounds are furious that plans for two divisions were defeated 12-7 by the smaller counties on Monday.

And although there is no question of an immediate breakaway, it is bound to be considered if there are no major changes to the county game in the next couple of years.

But for the moment Lancashire and the other Test Match counties are committed to the 18 team championship with a new "Super Cup" for the top eight teams.

Top of the agenda for Simmons and the rest of the committee tonight is the position of Chief Executive - with Jim Cumbes expected to be given the job on a permanent basis. Lancashire yesterday were handed two tough draws in next year's NatWest Trophy. They have missed out on a Minor County in the first round, instead facing Sussex - who beat them in the second round this year.

And if they win that, they are seeded to face Yorkshire assuming the Tykes win at Devon in the first round. The only consolation for Lancashire is that both games will be played at Old Trafford.

They face Gloucestershire at Bristol tomorrow in the last championship match of the season with Mark Harvey and Darren Shadford returning to the squad in place of Graham Lloyd and Paul Ridgway.

Meanwhile young Littleborough leg spinner Chris Schofield kept Lancashire on course for the second team championship at Old Trafford yesterday.

Schofield took two wickets in each innings as Leicestershire, replying to Lancashire's 462-6 declared, slipped to 99-2 after following on 283 runs behind.

Gary Yates claimed 3-31 from 30 overs in the first innings while Ridgway added 2-39.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)